Vanilla planifolia cutting rotting & rootless

[DragonFire1089]

This is my first post on here. I need help with my first and only orchid, an around four inche Vanilla planifolia cutting that I got about a year ago, when I first had it there was some roots on it, which have all fallen off and where the roots were has turned black. a few of its leaves fell off along with the new growth at the top, I think where I kept it was too sunny so it suffered sun burn. It only has three leaves left, has become quit dehydrated and is starting to rot at both end.

I'm keeping it in an indoor shelf greenhouse that's about two feet wide and six feet tall, where the temp stays at about 13°C in the winter and 24°C in the summer. I also have a mini desk humidifier in the greenhouse with it.

I will try posting some pictures tomorrow to help, but it is night currently so i cant get any good ones.

[Kruger]

My recommendation for a stressed plant is:

1) Slightly lower than normal light levels. You need vegetative growth now, not flowering. Your plant doesn't have enough roots to support the leaves getting hit with bright light.

2) Slightly warmer night temperatures. Your plant is too fragile for 'cold' nights.

3) Good humid, fresh airflow.

4) Allow whatever roots are left to dry rapidly so you don't risk rot in your watering.

Sometimes we can only get bare root divisions of plants and we have to nurse them back to full health. It's a good skill to learn and be confident in. Your plant wants to live, give it even a fraction of what it wants and it will be fine.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by DragonFire1089

This is my first post on here. I need help with my first and only orchid, an around four inche Vanilla planifolia cutting that I got about a year ago, when I first had it there was some roots

First, welcome to the Orchid Board! You did choose a challenging one for your first orchid, given where you live. (A lot easier in Florida than in Canada) Personally I haven't grown this one (just don't have the conditions) but other contributors will jump in. Some have had success reviving these by laying them horizontally on damp sphagnum moss. It can produce new roots along the stem. If you have it vertically, it will probably be nearly impossible to provide enough humidity to get roots going.

Looking for OB members who have had success with Vanilla!

[aliceinwl]

I bought a 6 inch cutting with one root and one leaf a few months back that is taking off for me now. The cutting came in a piece of that green foam florists use about 1 inch square and 4 inches tall. The cutting was in a hole through the center with a two inch section with the one root and one leaf protruding from the top. The root grew down the length of the foam on the outside.

I got a 6 inch diameter clay pot, put a tree fern totem in the center and filled the pot with Repotme.com’s terrestrial mix. I took the cutting in the foam and wrapped a thin layer of sphagnum (1/4 inch thick) around the foam and tied the whole thing to the base of the totem on top of the substrate. I poured water down the foam and moss whenever the moss was dry and kept the substrate in the pot moist but not wet. As soon as the root grew into the substrate the leaf got much more turgid and after 3 months it pushed its first new growth which is growing rapidly. But, there was a lot of nothing for the first 2 months.

I’m growing it in a relatively warm room. Temperatures range from low 70s to 80s Fahrenheit. It’s in a south facing window but is shaded by other plants so it isn’t hit with direct sun. Humidity is low so the foam moss setup dries rapidly and I water every 2-3 days.

Hopefully Southpark will chime in. They have some Vanilla that they’re growing in scoria/ lava rock that are doing well for them with daily watering.

[aliceinwl]

Some good threads to check out:
Vanilla Orchid dying from roots up

Substrate for Vanilla planifolia

[DragonFire1089]

First off, thank you Kruger, as a plant owner and nooby orchid owner your words are relatable and encouraging!

For the cold nights I have a small reptile heater I could put in the greenhouse? If you think that would help, I'll give it a try. And as I realized it probably got bad sunburn I but a small box right in front of it to block most of the sun, but if it is not enough I have some burlap. I think airflow is okay, but I have a tiny desk fan that be could put in if it is needed.

Aliceinwl, thank you for all the info I will definitely check out the links! As for the potting method I will keep it in mind for the future! It would probably be really helpful for me as too much soil moister is a big problem for me in the winter.

Roberta, thanks! I was worried about going on a new forum, but very one has been so nice.

But anyway, I am aware that this orchid is quit difficult, but as a long time plant owner I thought I would give it a try! As Vanilla orchids are quit rare to see where I live, and I think there really cool! Also thanks for the info, I had actually though about doing that before I came here, as even though it has no roots on the bottom, it seems to have a bunch of points along its back by the leaf bases where roots could be encouraged to grow from, given moister.

I think I'll give the sphagnum thing a try, but I have some pictures, so if any thoughts about its condition change I will reconsider. Sorry about the poor quality, it was getting dark out so I couldn't get a good shot.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

Hopefully Southpark will chime in. They have some Vanilla that they’re growing in scoria/ lava rock that are doing well for them with daily watering.

Hi aliceWL ! Thanks for the kind mention. The vanilla orchids over here, growing in the tropics at my place in north east Queensland - are still in their little pots of scoria - very airy medium and very well-drained little pots. They're strong and fast growers here. They'll do well, and unstoppable in medium light - in the shade - under a balcony. Natural gentle breezes just comes through at pretty much all times of the day and night.

We never get frost this far north of Australia, and orchids never encounter cold temperature effects like bruising etc. This all helps a lot.

The average humidity is approximately 70% over a year.

Totally with you Alice on the growing temperature side of things. Also great to read about your growing conditions, and your vanilla orchids are doing great too.

---------- Post added at 08:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:31 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DragonFire1089

I think I'll give the sphagnum thing a try, but I have some pictures, so if any thoughts about its condition change I will reconsider. Sorry about the poor quality, it was getting dark out so I couldn't get a good shot.

The amount of vanilla orchid you still have appears to be in relatively good condition. It definitely wouldn't be surprising that - if you provide good growing temperature for this orchid, and good humidity (but maintain some gentle air-movement around the orchid ---- not still-air environment), and medium light conditions ----- this orchid should be able to sprout roots and really take off.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by DragonFire1089

I think I'll give the sphagnum thing a try, but I have some pictures, so if any thoughts about its condition change I will reconsider. Sorry about the poor quality, it was getting dark out so I couldn't get a good shot.

Now that I see photos, I agree that it has a very good chance... doesn't look bad at all. Laying it on sphagnum and providing some warmth (like from a seedling mat) should inspire new roots... then the tree-fern pole would give it the substrate to continue to grow. Filtered light (burlap would make it too dark) and warmth.

[DragonFire1089]

I'm relived that it's in not too bad a shape, and that you both say it could recover! I'll get it on some sphagnum first thing tomorrow. Would it be good putting the sphagnum on the lid the orchids in right now? Or should I use a deeper one, and how moist should the sphagnum be? As for heat I have an about four by six inche Exo Terra reptile heater that I could use, its the only real heating mat I have if you think it would work? It seems to go to a max temp of about 76 to 100 degrees celsius, although I can touch it just fine so I think its actual radiated heat is much less.

I dont really know what to do for air movement, as opening the greenhouse would let out too much moister.

Oh um, should I do something about the dead end? Or is it fine just leaving it.

And finally here are some slightly better pictures, I have one showing its back which has all these brown spots along it, I don't know what they are but I assume that they're growing points.

[Roberta]

I think that you could use a container like the one you show, just a little larger and place it on the diagonal. So a shallow container. Keep the sphagnum moist not soggy I don't think that you have to worry much about air movement at this point, if you can maintain humidity and keep the sphagnum just damp. Once you get new roots you will be moving it to is more-permanent home, you will get growth as well as roots from those "nodes" along the stem. (It won't grow from the ends) Once it starts growing you will be able to see the direction, which will make it easier to figure out how to position it on that tree-fern stake.